Arab League is concerned about weapons of mass destruction

Esmat Abdul Meguid, the secretary-general of the Arab League, stated yesterday that the league is closely following regional and international reactions to the Indian nuclear experiments and the pressure placed on Pakistan to prevent it from carrying out similar experiments.

Those efforts failed today, as Pakistan conducted a series of underground tests of nuclear devices.

In press statements yesterday, Abdul Meguid said the AL's concern over this matter comes within the Arab adherence to establishing a region free of nuclear weapons.

He added that what arises astonishment is that the international reaction towards Israel is nonexistent, which does not hide its intention of conducting tests and possessing nuclear weapons. Abdul Meguid said that opening the way to competition in this field poses risks to international security and stability.

Abdul Meguid called on the international community to force Israel to join the nuclear weapons non-proliferation treaty and subject all its nuclear facilities to international inspection.